Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a freediver visiting Siquijor, let me read your mind.

“Barracudas.” 

Gotcha!

I heard it. 

You’re dreaming of diving with a battery of barracudas. 

You’ve heard of them in Siquijor.

And let’s be honest, you’ve seen the videos other freedivers have taken…

…and they look magical.

So you’re in Siquijor, but you have no idea what to do.

Where do you go?

How do you get to the spot where the barracudas can be spotted? 

What’s the barracuda area called?

If this is you, I’ve got you.

In this guide, I’ll tell you: 

• Everything you need to know about Tulapos Marine Sanctuary (Siquijor’s famous barracuda spot)
• What to expect there
• How much will you spend there?
• How to get there
• Who can enjoy Tulapos (Can you go there even if you’re a beginner freediver? A non-freediver? A non-swimmer?)
• And more!

Let’s dive in. 

Visiting Siquijor soon? Check out all the tourist spots in the island, or read my full travel guide. 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: Fast Facts

TL;DR

Don’t have time for an in-depth read?

Here are the best Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Fast Facts for you. 

How to get to Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: Here’s the spot on Google Maps:

Entrance Fee and Other Fees in Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: 

Entrance Fee: 100 per person

Guide Fee: 250 for 2 people

Gear Rental: 250 per person

Opening Hours: 

7 AM to 5 PM

What to expect in Tulapos Marine Sanctuary:

Guides are available immediately upon registration. No need to book ahead. 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Fun Facts: 3 Things to Know Before Visiting

Now, let’s dive into the fun part.

Here are 3 things that’ll make your visit to Tulapos Marine Sanctuary even more interesting.

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Fun Fact #1: The Sanctuary Has Been Around for a Long Time

Get this.

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is probably older than you and me. 

Yup: It was established in 1986, making it the oldest marine sanctuary on the island of Siquijor. 

The most beautiful, too?

For me, yes.

💯

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Fun Fact #2: Tulapos Is Much More than Just a Barracuda Viewing Area

That’s right!

Tulapos is a diverse marine sanctuary, with all sorts of living creatures inhabiting its dense mangrove forest, its lush grass beds, and its colorful coral reefs.

Of course, the barracudas are the main event.

But even if you don’t chance to see them?

You can view clown fish, giant clams, giant trevally, tuna, juvenile snappers, turtles, and even black tip sharks!

Plus, the corals at the deep end are lush and beautiful, lively in their various vibrant colors. 

I tell you, even without the barracudas, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is a real treat.

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Fun Fact #3: The Best Time to Visit Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Is in September 

I know, I know!

You were expecting me to say “summer.”

I mean, that’s when the seas are calm and the skies cloudless, right?

Right.

But here’s a fun fact for you: summer is NOT the best time to visit Tulapos Marine Sanctuary.

Why?

You can’t see the barracudas during the summer!

When the sun is out and the ocean is warm, they like to travel into the deep, where it’s cooler.

On the other hand, in the drier, colder weather of September, out they come into the shallows!

Of course, you’ll have to deal with waves and currents during September.

But if you’re out to see the barracudas and determined to swim with them…

…book your next trip for the cold months of the year. 

You won’t regret it. 

What to Expect in Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: The Good, the Beautiful, and the Unique 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is absolutely beautiful.

From the creamy shores touched by the light froth of incoming waves, to the silent dark of the deep…

…it has something to offer to everyone.

Here are 3 things to expect when you visit: 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Experience #1: Breathtaking Beauty

Imagine the curving shore of the beach as it touches the sea.

It’s early morning, and the waves are tiny, almost like ripples.

The sand underneath your feet is creamy, slightly scratchy. 

You step into the cool water. 

To get to the sanctuary, you have to wade out towards the deep.

The sea is filled with light, and it glows a serene turquoise. 

To your right, you can see the dense, hulking shadow of the mangrove forest. 

You imagine the creatures sleeping sheltered in its black, twisted roots. 

The sun glints on the horizon – it’s a beautiful, cloudless day.

When you’re waist-deep in the water, it’s time to put your masks, snorkels, and fins on.

You glide out into the peace of the ocean.

At first, there are grassy beds.

The depth at this area is shallow, around 2 meters.

Look below, and you’ll see the blurry shapes of colored starfish and mollusks. 

Swim further out, and the beds of corals appear.

Colorful, vibrant, from purple to rust red. 

Fish swim through these corals, and if you’re lucky, you can even spot a black tip shark or two!

Altogether, the experience is one of breathtaking beauty.

If you’ve been feeling stressed with city life lately, this is the perfect place to take a step back into nature and let it heal you.

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Experience #2: Barracudas!

Let me be honest with you.

I have never seen Siquijor’s barracudas. 

😥

All the pictures in this blog? They were taken by my friend, Jao. 

I have been to Tulapos twice, once in May (just for fun) and once in September (to see the barracudas).

However, I failed to see them both times.

Maybe I’m just unlucky. 

Or maybe I did things wrong. 

(More on how to see the barracudas later.) 

Yes, I plan to visit the place again in the future to finally see them. 

But I have seen photos and videos of them, plus heard stories from friends who have seen them.

And they all say this:

It’s a spectacular experience.

The battery is a big one, with hundreds of barracudas swimming together in unison.

Their long, sleek bodies, their ugly-beautiful faces, their menacing looks.

The graceful way they glide in the water, as though they were one with it.

Truly an experience worth enjoying.

And yes, I mean to experience this sometime soon! 

I hope you do too. 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary Experience #3: Viewing Lively Underwater Creatures

Like I mentioned before, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary isn’t exclusively a barracuda viewing point.

It’s populated with so many living creatures, from stiff blue starfish to striped clownfish that make you remember your favorite cartoon growing up.

From sleek black tip sharks to doe-eyed turtles gracefully gliding through the grassy patches close to the shallow area.

From majestic, black-and-purple giga clams (the largest known species of clams) to mysterious giant trevally moving silently beyond the sudden drop into the dark deep. 

If you’re a person who loves swimming with beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is a must-visit for you. 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: How to See the Barracudas (Exclusive Advice Based on My Own Experience) 

Here’s a special section you can’t find in other blogs.

Here, I’ll tell you the best way to see the barracudas of Tulapos.

So first things first: visit in September.

But yeah, everyone already knows this.

What they don’t know: you CAN visit in September and still miss them!

This happened to me, and I was SO disappointed. 

Here’s what happened: 

• Day 1 Dive: No barracudas
• Day 2 Dive: No barracudas 
• Day 3 Dive: Barracudas appeared! (But we were already on the ship going home) 

So here’s my advice: 

• Plan your trip for September
• Plan a longer trip (at least 3-5 days, if you can!)
• Dive in Tulapos every one of those days 
• Dive early (7 AM, when the sanctuary opens, is the best time) 

This will give you the biggest chance of seeing and swimming with the barracudas. 

Wink, wink.

This advice is based on my own experience.

I mean to follow it next time. 😏

How Much You’ll Spend at Tulapos Marine Sanctuary

Good news!

Diving at Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is not expensive. 

Here are the rates (and other things you might spend there):

• Entrance Fee: 100 per person (includes life vest) 
• Guide Fee: 250 for 2 people (with floater) 
• Gear: 250 for mask, snorkel, and fins
• Snacks: Unlimited, but there aren’t more than some chips and crackers for sale there

Pay the fees to the person at the registration hut at the sanctuary.

If you need rentals, ask this same person, and they’ll guide you with picking the right sizes for you.

The guide fee is also paid there (not directly to the guides, although you’re encouraged to give a tip if you enjoy their company). 

How to Get to Tulapos Marine Sanctuary (The Easy vs. The Expensive Way) 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is located in Enriquie Villanueva. 

It’s a bit far from San Juan, Siquijor’s main tourist area.

So if you plan to dive at 7 AM and you’re staying at San Juan, make sure to set out around 6 AM. 

It takes roughly an hour to get there. 

If you’ve already rented a motorcycle, you can easily drive yourself there. 

If you haven’t, you can grab a tricycle (motorcycle taxi) and tell the driver to take you there.

Warning, though: prepare your bargaining skills for this!

The trip will take around an hour, allowing the driver to charge you exorbitant sums. 😅

If you know how to drive, my advice is to rent a motorcycle and drive yourself there. 

A motorcycle only costs PHP300- 350 per day, which will save you a lot of money in the end. 

Once you get to the area, go to the registration hut and pay the fees.

You don’t need to book ahead, as guides are always ready to take guests out. 

If you arrive later in the morning, however, or dive during a weekend, you might need to wait in a queue. 

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: Is It for Everyone?

“I’m not a freediver.”

“I have never done an introduction class.”

“I don’t even know how to swim!”

I get it, you’re not sure if Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is for you.

You’re not sure if it’s safe for a non-freediver or non-swimmer.

If this is what you’re thinking, great news!

I’m here to tell you that the sanctuary is for everyone. 

All you need to be is comfortable in the water (even if you don’t know how to swim). 

When you register at the hut, you’ll be provided with a life jacket and a guide.

The guide will pull you into and around the water with a floater, so you can just hop on and enjoy the ride!

Remember, though, that you have to be comfortable in the water.

The guide will take you to the deep end, where the precipice drops sharply to around 20 meters deep.

If you’re not comfortable in deep water where you can’t see the ocean floor, tell your guide to keep you in the shallower, grassy area.

There, you can still enjoy beautiful sights like the clams, starfish, and clown fish…

…without being scared of the deep. 

Who to Contact When You Visit Tulapus Marine Sanctuary

Don’t want to take your chances with a long queue? 

Want a personal coach and the best-ever diving experience at the sanctuary?

You can contact Swake Freedivers. 

It’s run by an old friend, athlete, and freediving instructor, Jether Serino.

He’s great, and you’ll have a lovely experience diving with him. 

Who knows?

If you’re sold on the amazing experience of freediving, you might even want to take one of their certification courses! 

Also…

Shoutout to my friend John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_ 

He’s the guy that took all the amazing photos you see in this blog. Such as this one: 

Stunning right? 

He’s based in Moalboal, so if ever you’re there, hit him up on Instagram!

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary: An Adventure to Remember

Siquijor is a beautiful place. 

From lush forests to stunning sunsets, turquoise falls to creamy shores…

…the island really does have it all.

But let me tell you this.

You can’t really say you’ve experienced it all unless you’ve dived (or swum) at Tulapos Marine Sanctuary. 

Not unless you’ve glided within a battery of barracuda or knelt beside stunning purple gigas clams. 

Not unless you’ve floated in light-crested turquoise waters and watched black tip sharks scurry over a bed of brightly-colored corals. 

So go ahead.

Plan that trip around September.

Prepare your dive gear and (don’t forget) your underwater camera. 

And yes, prepare to have your mind completely blown by how stunning the experience is.

You’ll thank me later. 😉

Note: don’t forget to read my full Siquijor travel guide, or my tourist spot finder here!